BEAT Events
Tree Identification at Springside Park (Housatonic Heritage Walks)
Hebert Arboretum 874 North Street, Pittsfield, MA, United StatesTake a leisurely tree identification walk with Chelsey Simmons from Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) in Springside Park, Pittsfield’s largest park and home to the Hebert Arboretum and an American Chestnut Preserve. Participants will learn key characteristics of common trees…
Berkshire Green Drinks: ‘Beyond Recycling’ with Andrew Ferrara from Berkshire Zero Waste Initiative
OnlineJoin us for our September Berkshire Green Drinks event to meet Andrew Ferrara, the program manager of BEAT's Zero Waste Initiative, and learn about current projects and groups working to reduce waste in Berkshire County that go beyond just recycling!…
2023 Berkshire Biodiversity Day (BioBlitz)
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontUPDATE: BIOBLITZ IS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND! Some people have asked what will happen with Biodiversity Day this weekend if it's raining. We still plan to go ahead with the programs and the surveying, regardless of the weather forecast. We're keeping a close eye…
Wild Bee Walk with Aliza Fassler at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontJoin Aliza Fassler for a wild bee walk during the 14th Berkshire Biodiversity Day (aka Berkshire Bioblitz). Aliza will encourage participants to look for and observe bees doing their usual pollinating work and talk about who is found! This walk…
“What is a Spider and What is Not” with Joseph Warfel at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontJoseph Warfel will present on spiders and other arachnids at the 14th Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day (or Bioblitz). He'll give an overview of spiders and their relatives, including brief life histories of arachnids and their place in nature and the global…
Amphibian + Reptile Walk with Tom Tyning at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontJoin Professor Tom Tyning, an expert on amphibians and reptiles and an authority on New England’s natural history, for a guided herp walk at the 14th Berkshire Biodiversity Day. As part of the biological surveys, Tom will lead folks through…
“Local Mushrooms and Their Roles in the Ecosystem” with John Wheeler at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontJohn Wheeler will speak about local mushrooms and their role in the ecosystem at the 14th Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day (or Bioblitz). He’ll go over the symbiotic relationship between plant roots and fungi (mycorrhizal fungi) and mushrooms that get their…
“Backyard Leafminers” with Charley Eiseman at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontCharley Eiseman will speak about leafminers — insect larvae that spend at least part of their lives feeding between the thin, outer (epidermal) layers of leaves — at the 14th Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day, or Bioblitz. In North America, leafminers…
Owl Prowl Walk with Hoffmann Bird Club at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontJoin Rene Wendell of Hoffmann Bird Club for an evening owl prowl during the 14th Berkshire Biodiversity Day (aka Berkshire BioBlitz). Rene will lead participants on the edge of wooded areas to try and determine who-who-who might be out there…
Early Morning Bird Walk with Hoffmann Bird Club at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontJoin Rene Wendell of Hoffmann Bird Club for an early morning bird walk during the 14th Berkshire Biodiversity Day (aka Berkshire BioBlitz). This walk is one of many activities happening during this year’s Berkshire Bioblitz that’s taking place on September…
Mist Netting + Bird Banding Demo with Berkshire Bird Observatory at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontJoin Ben Nickley of Berkshire Bird Observatory (BBO) for an early morning mist-netting demo during the 14th Berkshire Biodiversity Day (aka Berkshire BioBlitz). This demonstration is an excellent opportunity for people to experience some of the biodiversity surveying methods used…
“Meet the Native Bees of New England” with Aliza Fassler at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontIn North America, there are approximately 4,000 species of wild bees that are critical for pollinating plants in our forests, gardens, and fields. At the 14th Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day (or Bioblitz), Aliza Fassler will talk about the diversity of…
Walk Through an Old Growth Forest at Ice Glen Ravine (Housatonic Heritage Walks)
Goodrich Memorial Park 2 Park Street, Stockbridge, MA, United StatesJoin this small excursion with Chelsey Simmons from Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) through one of the oldest forests in Massachusetts, where you'll walk among trees that are hundreds of years old and through a lush landscape of boulders thick…
Berkshire Green Drinks: “Snakes Are More Interesting Than You Can Imagine” with Tom Tyning
The Williams Inn 103 Spring St, Williamstown, MA, United StatesThe life histories, annual behaviors, and evolutionary story of snakes are incredible, fascinating, and remarkable. Join us online or in person with Professor Tom Tyning at the October Berkshire Green Drinks hybrid event to learn more about this important group…
Seed Saving Workshop with Amy Pulley of Wing and a Prayer Nursery
BEAT's Environmental Leadership & Education Center 20 Chapel St, Pittsfield, MA, United StatesGathering seed from native plants and sowing it yourself is a fun and inexpensive way to increase the biodiversity of the land under your care! Join this BEAT-organized workshop led by Amy Pulley of Wing and a Prayer Nursery to…
Wildlife Tracking Hike with Jim Pelletier and David Ellis
October Mountain State Forest Lee, MAAlthough wildlife tracking is often correlated with winter, snow isn't necessary in order to successfully find and identify track and sign left by animals. Join skilled trackers Jim Pelletier and David Ellis for a day of tracking at October Mountain…
Berkshire Green Drinks: “Forest Conservation and Management Strategies for Climate Mitigation” with DCR Forester Tom Ryan
Big Elm Brewery - Sheffield Taproom 65 Silver St, Sheffield, MA, United StatesJoin us online or in person at our November Berkshire Green Drinks event with Tom Ryan, a forester with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Tom will touch on several areas within forestry, including an overview of the…
Tree Walks with BEAT + TOURISTS
TOURISTS 915 State Rd, North Adams, MA, United StatesThroughout winter, BEAT's programs director, Chelsey Simmons, will be leading two tree walks each month in collaboration with TOURISTS. These walks will take place on a Wednesday and Sunday, begin at noon, and are free with the option to donate…
Wildlife Tracking Hike with Jim Pelletier and Richard Greene
Beartown State Forest 69 Blue Hill Rd., Monterey, MA, United StatesAlthough wildlife tracking is often correlated with snow, it isn’t necessary in order to successfully find and identify track and sign left by animals. Join skilled trackers Jim Pelletier and Richard Greene for a half day (or full day —…
Wildlife Tracking Hike with Jim Pelletier and Richard Greene
Beartown State Forest 69 Blue Hill Rd., Monterey, MA, United StatesAlthough wildlife tracking is often correlated with snow, it isn’t necessary in order to successfully find and identify track and sign left by animals. Join skilled trackers Jim Pelletier and Richard Greene for a half day (or full day —…